Rail anchor



Feb. 2', 1926. 1,571,183

R. A. BLAIR MIL Auction und am. 1,`1925 Patented F eb. 2, 1926.

ROLANIDIS A. BLAIR, OF FORT W'AYNE, INDAN-A, ASSIGNOR TO THE P .PATENT OFFBCE.

@c IVI COMPANY,

OIE' CHECAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed January 10, 1925.

To all 1.0710112y t may; con-cern.'

Be it known that I, RoLANDis A. BLAIR, a Citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following` is a speciiication.

My invention relates to devices for preventing the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, these devices being commonly called rail anchors, anti-Creepers or rail stays.

@ne of the objects of my invention is the provision of a rail anchor of simple and compact coi'istruction., ine;Y uensive to manufacture, which will maintain a reliable hold on the rail as against the tendency of the device to become loosened by vibration or other disturbing` influences, and which may be quickly and conveniently put in place on the rail, or removed therefrom, should oceasion require.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a rail anchor so constructed that it may be removed and replaced several times without impairing` its holding, power.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a rail anchor so constructed that it can be used with rails having bases diiferingr in width, thickness or contour.

It is another object of my invention to provide a rail anchor adapted to prevent the longitudinal creep of railroad rails in both directions.

in its preferred form my invention contemplates a rail base embracing yoke member having inwardly extending` lips adapted to bear on the respective top surfaces of the rail base flanges and a depending portion adapted to extend transversely under the rail base, said dependinT portion having flanges proiectinpr laterally from its respec` tive sides; and a further object of my invention isl the provision of a U-shaped resilient key adapted to straddle the depending` portion of the yoke member and to be driven between the miderface of the rail base and said laterally projecting` flanges, said key being so shaped that it has to be distorted when it is driven home, for example, the legs of the key may be arranged so that normally they stand out of alignment with respect to each other.

Serial No. 1,520.

The invention consists in the novel arrangements, constructions and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carr ing out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein` Fig'. 1 is a perspective view of a rail anchor embodying the principles of my invention shown in operative position on a fragmentary portion of a rail base;

F 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the yoke member of. the device may be applied to the rail base;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing; the yoke member in operative position on the rail base and the key member about to De driven into place;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the resilient key; and

Fig'. 5 is an end elevational view, on a rcduced scale, showing' the device in operative position on the rail and abutting` against a tie.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

The yoke member of the device is pro,- vided with inwardly extending lips 8 and `9, theunder surfaces of which are adapted to bear on the respective top surfaces of the rail base flanges 10 and 11, and a depending portion 12 which extends substantially transversely of the rail base when the yoke member is in operative position thereon. Flanges 13 and 14 project laterally from the respective sides of the depending portion 12. The depending portion 12 is under-cut or notched at 15 to provide for application of the yoke member to the rail base as will be presently explained. The yoke member is preferably punched or cut out of a rolled steel bar of T-shape in cross section.

The key means 16, employed in association with the yoke member, is preferably made out of a bar of resilient, relatively high-carbon steel and in the present embodiment comprises a U-shaped member formed so that its legs 16:L and 16b may straddle the depending yoke portion 12 when the key driven in place. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the legs of the key normally stand Cil out of alignment, in the present case the leg 1G occupying a position lower than that occupied by the leg 161.

1n applying the device to a rail the yoke member is first placed substantially transversely ot the rail base in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 wherein it will be noted that the edge ot the rail base flange 11 extends into the notch 15 which permits the inner edge ot the lip 8 to clear the edge of the rail base flange 10 when the other end of the yoke member is raised. The yoke member is then shifted transversely on the rail base inte a position substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 whereupon it may be lowered on the rail base with the under sur- Jnices oiL the lips 8 and t) bearing on the respective top surfaces ot the rail base iianges 10 and 11 as shown in Fig. 3. The key is then inserted, as shown in Fig. 3, with its legs straddling the depending yoke portion 12, the respective legs 16 and 16h being disposed between the under face of the rail base and the upper faces of the flanges 13 and 14 ot the yoke member. A tool such as a sledge or the like is then used to strike the connected end ot the key (lett end, Fig. to drive the key transversely ot the rail and the yoke member into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The key in being driven home is considerably distorted, the two legs of the key being forced into substantial alignment which sets up a twisting strain in the key and results in the device taking and maintaining a reliable grip on the rail base, the lips 8 and 9 vexerting a powerful downward pressure on the tops of the respective rail base flange* while the upper edges ot the legs of the key exert a powerful upward pressure against the bottom of the rail base. Since the key is appreciably distorted when driven home on the yoke member there is a powerful and reliable binding action between the bottom edges of the legs ot the key and the respective flanges 13 and lll which, combined with the binding action between the upper edges et the legs ol' the key and the under side of the rail base7 is ample to prevent the key from working backwardly on the yoke member. The grip ot the device on the rail base is ample to prevent any slippage thereof longitudinally ot' the rail in either direction, notwithstanding the disturbingl influences to which the device is snbjccted due to the passage of heavy rolling` stock and changeable weather conditions.

rflic device can be nsed with rails having ases (littering in widtha thickness or contour due to the tact that the key means is considerably distorted in driving it home. For rails beyond the limit oi adjustment of any given key the device may be adapted without changing the yoke member by merely using a key having narrower or wider legs. Due to the tact that the legs of the key straddle the depending portion oiL the yoke member and that the lines of contact between the legs and the rail base are widely separated, theze is little chance for the device to rock or tilt on the rail under a creep ing strain. The device is of simple and compact construction and inexpensive to manutacture. lt may be conveniently and quickly put in place on a rail. The holding power ot the device compared to the amount of metal used in it is very great. The device may be readily removed from the rail by striking the 'tree or non-connected ends ot the legs o'f the key and driving the key back- 'wardly on the yoke member. The device may be reapplied to a rail, in tact it may be removed and replaced several times without impairing its holding power.

do not intend to limit my invention to the details oft construction shown and described, exceptonly in so tar as certain of the appended claims are specilically so limited, as it will be obvious that modifications may be made without departing trom the principles ot my invention.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke having a subjacent portion normally horizontally disposed with respect to the under face et the rail and a resilient key adapted to be driven transversely of the rail between the under face ot the rail base and said subjacent portion of the yoke.

2. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke and a resilient U-shaped key adapted to straddle a portion ot the yoke and to be driven transi-.fersely ot the rail between the nnderitace oi" the rail base and :i subjacent portion oi the yoke.

A rail anchor comprising a rail base en'ibracing yoke having a subjacent portion normally horizontally disposed with respect to the under face ot thc rail and a resilient .key adapted to be driven tranS-wersely ot the rail between the under tace oi the rail base and said snbjaccnt portion of the yoke. said key being ol such shape that it is distorted when it is driven home. tor the purpose specified.

4. A rail anchor comprising a rail base en'ibracing yoke and a resilient U-shaped key adapted to straddle a portion ol" the yoke and to be driven transversely ot the rail between the under 'tace ot the rail base and a subjacent portion ot. the yoke. said key being ot such shape that it is distorted when it is driven home, Yt'or the purpose specified..

5. A rail anchor con'ipriing a rail base embracing yoke and a resilient icl-shaped key, the legs ot which are normally out o't align-r ment, adapted to be driven transversely ot the rail between the under iace oft the rail base and a snbjacent portion of the yoke.

G. A rail anchor comprising a rail base loo llt)

en'ibracing yoke and a resilient U-shaped key, the legs of which are normally out of alignment, adapted to straddle a portion of the yoke and to be driven transversely of the rail between the under face of the rail base and a subjacent portion of the yoke.

7. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke pro-vided with a transversely extending depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides and resilient key means adapted to be driven between the. under face of the rail base and said flanges.

8. A. rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke provided with a transversely extending depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides and a resilient U-shaped key adapted to straddle said depending portion and to be driven between the underface of the rail base and said anges.

9. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke provided with a transversely extending depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides and resilient key means adapted to be driven bevrcen the under face of the rail br.. e and said flanges, said key'means being of such shape that it is distorted when driven home, for the purpose specified.

10. A rail anchor coi'uprising a rail base embracing yoke provided with a transversely extending depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides and a resilient U-shaped key adapted to straddle said depending` portion and to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said flanges, said key being of such shape that it is distorted when driven home, for the purpose specified.

11. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke provided with a transversely extending depending portion having` fianges projecting laterally from its respective sides and a resilient U-shaped key, the legs of which are normally out of alignment. adapt ed to straddle said depending portion and to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said flanges.

12. A rail anchor comprising a yoke memher having inwardly extending lips adapted to bear on the top surfaces of the respective rail base flanges and a depending portion adapted to extend transversely under the rail base, said depending portion .having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides, and resilient key means adapted to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said last named flanges.

13. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member having inwardly extending` lips adapted to bear on the top surfaces of the respective rail base flanges and a depending portion adapted to extend transversely under the rail base, said depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides, and a resilient U-shaped key adapted to straddle said depending portion and to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said last named flanges.

14. A rail anchor comprising a yoke meinber having inwardly extending lips adapted to bear on the top surfaces of the respective rail base flanges and a depending portion adapted to extend transversely under the rail bas-e, said depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides, and resilient key means adapted to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said last named flanges, said key means being of such shape that it is distorted when driven home, for the purpose specified.

15. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member having inwardly extending lips adapted tobear on the top surfaces of the respective rail base flanges and a depending portion adapted to extend transversely under the rail base said depending portion` having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides, and a resilient U-shaped key adapted to straddle said depending portion and to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said last named flanges, said key being of such shape that it is distorted when driven home, for the purpose specified.

16. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member havinginwardly extending lips adapted to bear on the top surfaces of the respective rail base flanges and a depending portion adapted to extend transversely under the rail base, said depending portion having flanges projecting laterally from its respective sides. and a resilient U-shape'd key, the

legs of which are normally out of alignment,

adapted to straddle said depending portion and to be driven between the under face of the rail base and said last named fianges.

17. A rail anchor comprising a member adapted to be applied to the base of a rail intermediate the ends of the rail and extend under said base and provided with a subjacent portion normally parallel to the bottom surface of the rail base, and a key adapted to be driven into binding engagement with the rail and the subjacent por-- tion of said anchor member.

18. A rail anchor comprising a member adapted to engage the base of a rail and extend under Said base and formed with a subjacent portion normally parallel to the bottom surface of the rail base, and a key adapted to be distorted into binding engage'- ment with the rail and the said subjacent portion of said anchor member.

19. A rail anchor comprising a member adapted to engage the base of a rail and extend under the base and formed with a subjacent portion normally parallel to the bot-tom surface of the rail base, and a key having` tWo members oset with relation to each other and adapted to be distorted into binding engagement With the rail and the 5 subjaoent portion of said anchor' member.

20. A rail anchor comprising` a member adapted to engage the base of a rail and extend under said base and formed with a subjacent portion normally parallel to the bottom surface of the rail base, and a resilient ley having two members oiset with relation to each other and adapted to be distorted into binding engagement with the rail and the subjacert portion of said anchor member.

ROLANDIS A. BLAIR. 

